Meet the musician: Trent Glisson celebrates debut CD with show at Route 7

By Andrea Honaker

Published: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 03:31 PM.

“Right now, I’m just looking to book some shows and get a little income off that,” he said. “And in the future, I’ll probably look for a label.”

Trent Glisson in concert When: Saturday, doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m.Where: Route 7 Bar and Grill, 2813 Lowell Road, GastoniaTickets: $5 in advance at Route 7 and $7 at the door before the showVenue contact: 704-879-9128For more on Trent: Visit www.reverbnation.com/trentglisson or find him on Facebook

Local musician Trent Glisson is getting his name out there. The native Gastonian’s first radio single, “Cold World,” can be heard on rock station 106.5 The End, and he’s just recorded his debut self-titled CD.

On Saturday, Glisson will give a concert at Route 7 Bar and Grill in Gastonia, and he’ll be selling and signing copies of the new album.

The Hunter Huss grad started teaching himself guitar at age 15 and playing at his church, and for the past year he’s been making his rounds performing at area venues, such as Freeman’s Pub and Sharkey’s in Gastonia and other places in Concord and Charlotte.

Glisson also plays piano, harmonica and ukulele, although he uses just his guitar and a loop pedal for his shows, he said. He performs covers such as “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash, and also original songs from his album. His CD features hip hop beats as well as “stripped-down acoustic,” he said. He describes his sound as somewhere in between Ed Sheeran, John Mayer and One Republic, and counts those artists as well as The Black Crows, Kings of Leon and Live as his biggest musical influences.

Glisson recently visited Nashville for the first time. He sang at a few bars and spent a few hours in the recording studio, with singer-songwriter Jewel in the room right next to him. Glisson didn’t get to talk to her but said she waved at him.

“It was a really cool city,” he said. “There were a lot of nice people. There was music everywhere.”

Glisson hopes to return to the Music City in the future; and in the meantime, he’ll be focusing on getting his next gigs.

“Right now, I’m just looking to book some shows and get a little income off that,” he said. “And in the future, I’ll probably look for a label.”

Trent Glisson in concert
When: Saturday, doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m.Where: Route 7 Bar and Grill, 2813 Lowell Road, GastoniaTickets: $5 in advance at Route 7 and $7 at the door before the showVenue contact: 704-879-9128For more on Trent: Visit www.reverbnation.com/trentglisson or find him on Facebook